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Page 12 The Antique Shoppe September, 2018
The tops were generally round but to the cleats using pegs driven through
COMMON SENSE sometimes rectangular made of a soft the top but later 18th century and
wood such as pine. The tops usually
early 19th century models used hand
ANTIQUES had only two boards that were held wrought or cut nails driven through
the top surface to hold them. Versions
together by cleats under the top that
made after the 1820s used screws
were attached to the chair by wooden
By Fred Taylor pins through the top portions of the rear inserted into the cleats from below that
attached the cleats to the tops from
stiles of the chair. The top boards were
attached to the cleats by wooden pegs underneath. Then of course the age of
TRUE MULTI-PURPOSE FURNITURE driven though the top into the cleats. the screw becomes important to the
age of the piece. The history of screw
A variation of the chair table was
The Hutch Table the “hutch table.” This model, instead manufacturing can be found in my
book “HOW TO BE A FURNITURE
of a having a chair beneath the top,
opened to reveal storage in the form DETECTTIVE.”
Have you ever had one of those But there was a much earlier of a shelf or a series of shelves or Another important clue to originality
“multi-purpose” tools or gadgets? You example of multiple use furniture even a cabinet with drawers. This and age is the edges of the boards used
know the kind that combine several early in the Colonial period beginning was sometimes of course called a in the top. Virtually all original tops,
useful ideas into one convenient in the late 17th century. That example “cabinet table.” The basic design no matter when made, were made of
package. If your experience is was the “chair table.” It consisted of of the chair table or hutch table boards with smooth more or less square
like mine, you found out that the a straight chair changed little edges. Jointed edges such as tongue
convenience was overrated and the with a wooden from the and groove or splined joints were hard
usefulness less so. Like most things top attached to 17th century to make and were seldom used for
designed to do more than one thing the frame with to the 19th this type furniture. However, this type
they don’t do any of it really well. wooden pegs century but the joinery was often used for the sides or
They just do a lot of it. The Swiss that allowed construction backs of cabinets since it produced a
Army knife is a good example. When it to fold over techniques dust free joint. It is not a far stretch to
you really need it, all the gadgets can the chair. The did, and they attach the back of a dilapidated cabinet
be a real lifesaver, but you must admit top served as can be used with tongue and groove joinery to the
you would really rather have a good a table when to determine base of an equally dilapidated old chair
pair of scissors than that “faux” pair lowered over the age of table to produce a newly assembled
found in the combine of the Swiss the chair this useful “antique chair table.” And of course, a
Army knife. The same is true for the frame. When chameleon. chair table made prior to the mid-19th
knife blade. While useful in a pinch it the top was One of the century will show evidence of hand
can’t compare to a good sheath knife. lifted over main clues planning or hand sawing on the bottom
The multi-purpose approach the chair and to age is the side of the top boards.
became popular with American folded back it number of Chair tables and hutch tables were
furniture makers in the late 19th served to shield boards used an important part of our early furniture
century but it was more of a the chair user in the top. history. Just be sure you know how to
modified “multi-purpose” use than from the wind The earliest tell a real colonial piece from a later
versions of the
factory-made reproduction.
a true exercise in multi-tasking. that probably chair table or
One example was the cabinet bed. It was a constant the hutch table Send your comments, questions and
looked like a real cabinet from the irritation in had a limited pictures to me at PO Box 215, Crystal River,
late 19th century. Many had drawer early Colonial number of FL 34423 or email them to me at info@
pulls and even mirrors, but they didn’t housing. It was This primitive looking table reveals itself to wide boards in furnituredetective.com
an ingenious
really function as cabinets. They just storage be a hutch table or a cabinet table. The four the top, only Visit Fred’s website at www.furnituredetective.com
cleverly disguised the bed and of concept, boards in the top, the joinery and the type two or three and check out the downloadable “Common
course folding beds had been around allowing a of nails used indicate it was made around at the most. In Sense Antiques” columns in .pdf format. His
for over 100 years, so it wasn’t really table to be the middle of the 19th century so it is not a this case they book “HOW TO BE A FURNITURE DETECTIVE”
is now available for $18.95 plus $3.00 S/H.
a new topic. Even the much-vaunted stored Colonial period antique. are similar Send check or money order for $21.95 to Fred
Murphy bed concept was just a vertically to Windsor Taylor, PO Box 215, Crystal River, FL 34423
storage device rather than a true multi along a wall chairs. The Fred and Gail Taylor’s DVD, “IDENTIFICATION
use form. Among the first true multi- while providing an out of the way place more boards used in the seat or top the OF OLDER & ANTIQUE FURNITURE”, ($17.00
purpose items of furniture in the early to sit - a true multi-purpose device. more recent the construction. + $3.00 S&H) are also available at the same
20th century was the “lounge bed” The late 17th / early 18th century Versions of the hutch table were address. For more information call (800) 387-
patented by Peter Kroehler of the chair table was made like most chairs made well into the late 19th century 6377 (9AM-4PM Eastern, M-F only), fax 352-
563-2916, or e-mail info@furnituredetective.
Naperville Lounge Co. It was truly a of the period with square or turned so construction details are important com. All items are also available directly from
couch that opened to reveal a true bed stiles and rails made primarily of oak to determine the age. Most 17th and the website, www.furnituredetective.com
with springs and a mattress. or other hardwoods. early18th century tops were attached

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